The Utah Jazz claimed their first home victory of the season, narrowly defeating the Dallas Mavericks 115-113. John Collins sealed the win with a tiebreaking dunk with 6.4 seconds left, marking an explosive performance with 28 points and nine rebounds. The Jazz, now 3-8, celebrated a crucial morale boost at the Vivint Arena.
Jordan Clarkson contributed 20 points off the bench, while rookie forward Kyle Filipowski added 14 points and seven rebounds, continuing his promising start to the season.
Lauri Markkanen chipped in with 13 points, providing additional offensive support for the Jazz. Utah’s defense held strong, staving off a comeback attempt by Dallas late in the fourth quarter.
Dallas, missing Kyrie Irving due to a right shoulder sprain, relied heavily on Luka Doncic, who scored 37 points along with seven rebounds and nine assists.
Quentin Grimes stepped in for Irving and contributed 15 points and five assists, while Klay Thompson, newly acquired in the offseason, added 17 points.
Despite the absence of Irving, the Mavericks erased a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, with Thompson hitting a clutch three-pointer to tie the game in the final minute.
The Jazz capitalized on a decisive 9-0 run late in the third quarter, creating separation after a strong showing from Doncic, who scored six field goals in the period. Utah extended their lead to 90-78 with a tip-in by Collins, who has been effective at center this season.
The Jazz’s hot shooting from beyond the arc (38.2%) and aggressive rebounding helped them maintain the lead until the Mavericks’ late surge.
Utah’s fast-break opportunities made a significant impact on the game, as the Jazz tallied 20 points in transition. Their ability to execute in fast-break situations underscored a quick, high-energy playing style that disrupted Dallas’ defensive schemes.
Collins’ performance, which included hitting 10 of his 20 shot attempts, highlighted his value as a versatile scoring option for Utah.
While Doncic kept the Mavericks competitive throughout, their lack of a reliable second scorer was apparent. Naji Marshall, in his role off the bench, contributed 19 points and played a significant role in keeping Dallas within reach.
However, Dallas struggled with three-point shooting, managing only 30.8% from beyond the arc. This contrasted sharply with Utah’s success from three, where Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, and Clarkson combined to sink nine threes.